This rule makes final a June 30, 1998 proposed rule that proposed to establish for housing insured and/or assisted under certain HUD programs uniform physical condition standards. These standards are intended to ensure that such housing is decent, safe, sanitary and in good repair. To the extent possible, HUD believes that its Section 8 housing, public housing, HUD-insured multifamily housing, and other HUD assisted housing (collectively, HUD housing) should be subject to uniform physical standards. Additionally, to the extent feasible, HUD believes that the physical inspection procedures by which the standards will be assessed should be uniform in the covered programs. Therefore, this rule amends HUD's regulations to require that certain HUD housing, as defined in this rule, must meet uniform physical condition standards to ensure that the HUD housing is decent, safe, sanitary and in good repair. This rule also generally establishes new physical inspection procedures that will allow HUD to determine conformity with such standards. This rule does not change the requirement for annual physical inspections currently found in the covered HUD programs. Additionally, this rule does not affect the existing requirements in each covered HUD program regarding which entity is responsible for conducting the physical inspection. This rule takes into consideration public comment received on the June 30, 1998 proposed rule.

Agency Names

Uniform Physical Condition Standards and Physical InspectionDEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT